| Long-Term
Care to
the medical and/or personal care services required by a person
with a chronic disability or illness. The Health Insurance
Association of America estimated in 1998 that at least 40%
of the population over age 65 would enter a nursing home
before they die. Half of those requiring care are released
within six months. Of those remaining, the average stay is
2 ½ years. The average cost is about $41,000 a year.
By the year 2030, the average annual cost of a nursing home
stay is expected to increase care due to accidents, cancer,
strokes, etc. Approximately 7 million men and women were
living in nursing homes in 1997, and some stays have exceeded
20 years.
Who
pays the cost of Long-Term Care? The
patient or family pays for nursing home care costs not paid
by Medical or Medicaid. Only about 8% of nursing home costs
are paid by Medicare, which offers limited coverage for the
first 100 days in a skilled care facility, and no coverage
for the intermediate or custodial care that the vast majority
of nursing home residents require. In 1997, Medicaid paid
more than 50% of the total nursing home bills. To qualify
for Medicaid the patient must be impoverished under the state's
definition. In most states the patient must not have income
greater than the cost of the nursing home facility. Other
states have "income caps" to limit eligibility
for Medicaid, for example, "income cannot exceed 3 times
the Federal Social Security Income benefit level for that
year." For the most part, the people who need the care,
or their families, pay the bill. The most intelligent method
to cover Long Term Care is Insurance. This may protect assets
from confiscation by the State pay for care.
The
Need. Some people
may require daily medical attention while others may simply
need help with the basic activities of daily living (ADL)
such as bathing, dressing, taking medication, eating, using
the toilet, getting in or out of bed, or walking. A typical
nursing home stay commonly falls into 2 categories: short
term stays (1-3 months), which involve skilled nursing care,
and typically follow a hospital confinement; and lengthy
stays that comprise mostly maintenance and custodial care
and that average 2.5 years.
Levels
of Care
Skilled
care. Refers to
a patient who needs daily nursing care, physical therapy,
etc., provided or supervised by professional nurses and/or
therapist under physician's orders. Intermediate care.
Patient requires only intermittent or occasional rehabilitative
care or nursing.
Custodial
care. Patient
needs help with activities of daily living (ADL). Does
not require a registered nurse or a therapist, but need
for such care is based on physician's orders.
Long-Term
Care Insurance. Policy
may be issued on an individual or a group basis. The Health
Insurance Association of America has prepared a list of "typical
coverage" offered by leading sellers of Long-Term
Care insurance. *
Long
Term Care insurance may provide for: **
 |
Services
covered. Skilled, intermediate and custodial care, home
health care, adult day care (often covered in the policy) |
|
Daily
benefit: $40-300/day nursing home. $40-300/day home health
care |
|
Benefit
eligibility: Physician certifies that benefit is medically
necessary |
|
Benefit
period: 2 years, 3 years, 5 years or life |
|
Alzheimer
coverage: Yes (If not preexisting condition) |
|
Deductible
periods: 0-180 |
|
Renewability:
Guaranteed |
|
Pre-existing
condition: 6 months |
|
Inflation
consideration: Yes (often 5% annual increase in daily benefit
amount) |
|
Age
limits for issuance : 50-84 |
|
Waiver
of premium: Yes |
|
Free
look: 30 days |
*Note: Of course,
the more benefits included in the policy, the larger the
premium. Since every policy may be different, the terms,
conditions and limitations of the policy must be carefully
reviewed before making a purchase |
